ARTH 030. Brought to Life: The Art of Animation in East Asia

To bring an image to life is an undying fantasy, one that predates anime and computer-animated films. This course takes as its focus the art of enlivenment in East Asia. It explores the idea of animation through a range of topics spanning across time, media, and contexts, including: the production of remarkably life-like images, such as ikiningyo (“living doll”) in Japan; activation and enlivenment of Buddhist icons; theories on the criteria of “spirit resonance” in Chinese paintings; pictorial formats and optical devices that set static pictures into motion; animated films from Korea, China, and Japan; and the use of animation in experimental and contemporary art.
Humanities.
1 credit.
Eligible for ASIA.
Catalog chapter: Art History
Department website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/art-art-history

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